Best Greens in Ireland

Kevinmarkham

So come on then, where are the best greens you've played on this year?

I've heard people extolling the virtues of several courses around the country and I'm trying to put together a list of greens/courses which golfers are raving about.

So:
1. What are the best greens you've played*?
2. How many Irish courses have you played this year... to put things in perspective?

*If you're recommending your home club, please say so.
Thanks

FixdePitchmark

I've been very lucky to play plenty of courses this year (about 25, maybe a little more).

Overall the standard of greens in Ireland are very very good. It is something not that easy to remember about a round a long time after a round - but something you talk about straight after. So will be a little tricky to judge.

So I think I will be talking about the ones I played recently - and a few other more memorable from further back.

Recent ones that were very good were

1) Greystones (yesterday) - fantastic greens. Some of the best I have seen.
2) Portstewart were out of this world - the whole condition is amazing.
3) Monty and Kileen were fantastic - that similar sand based design.
4) Also Galway Bay are very very good.
5) Beaverstown - a real challenge , very fast and will go in if right putt. A little gem.

Further back
6) Of the other Boards outings, Naas and Tullamore were very good too.
7) The effort and work taking place in The Island is great - even the chipping green would be as good as any Links course out there - Always a sign you are at another level when practice green is as good as rest of course.
8) A place that has got back on top of things St Margarets.

*And of course my sort of home course - Corballis , deserves a deserved mention.
There are the odd pitch mark damage on the very short ones- the place has unreal traffic.
Is open all year - opens when no other courses are open in near ice - has been vandalised at least 3 times in 4 years. The greens there just after they are cut - are such fun to play. Not sure they are true links greens - they are like parkland greens on a sand base.

By the way - I prefer Links greens to start , I just putt better on them (pace , larger breaks) - but do admire the colour and condition that parkland greens can be in.

But overall - fair play to the greenkeepers of Ireland , fantastic stuff.

alxmorgan

Played only maybe 15 courses this year but greens in Castletroy for scratch cup in August were just superb. Roll was perfect on them.

Shout out for my home club East Clare as well. We got an expert in a few years ago to sort them and there are up there now. Would go as far as saying they would give Castletroy a run for their money on their best day

ForeRight

Played hermitage during the good summer weather.

The greens were insane. Like putting on glass and the most beautiful roll I got all year.

Golfgraffix

Been lucky to have played a lot of courses this year. For me the best have been at Hermitage GC, nothing short of perfect.

Played Dun Laoghaire last week and they were a very close second.

J

thoscon

Haven't played many other courses this year but played Kilcock a few times leading up to the junior cup and the greens are exceptional, running so true & so fast

rollotomasi

thoscon wrote: »

Haven't played many other courses this year but played Kilcock a few times leading up to the junior cup and the greens are exceptional, running so true & so fast

+1 on this. I've played here a few times this year.
Kilcock's greens were soft and receptive to shots yet very quick and true.

slave1

Don't like playing the same course over and over again, get bored very quickly so I've played 34 courses this year out of 67 rounds and probably Kileen Castle early in the year were the best, super fast and great true roll. Played the Castle Course in Lahinch yesterday and their greens were as good if not better than the Old course, pleasant surprise!

pinkdoubleeagle

Am extremely biased but not seen any better than Lucan's TBH

yipsnomore

Douglas in Cork are one of my favourites.

Fota as well

Ben1977

Haven't played many courses this year but 2 stand out. Birr and Portmarnock Links.

Boskowski

Have only played half a dozen courses this year but can't stop raving about Fota.

Dr_Colossus

Have played 18 difference courses this year and the one that really stood out was Druid's Glen in early July. Big greens with some tough undulations but the speed and roll was perfect, nicely fast and supoer consistent and so true. Even on long 40+ foot putts there's wasn't a bobble or hop out of the ball. Played Druid's Glen for the first time about 2 years previous and they were as good back back.

A notable second would be Adare, played in mid June in their scratch cup having been looking forward to playing the course for years as the no 1 parkland in Ireland. Was a bit underwhelmed by the layout and course in general but their greens were super. Very big with some massive breaks which coupled with tough pin positions and high speed made for difficult putting.

Also worthy of mention is Beaverstown, played their scratch cup in mid may in near perfect conditions but the strength of the greens kept scoring moderate. Quite tough undulation so if you short sighted yourself you weren't easily getting down in two. A pleasure to play on.

benny79

Haven't played that many different courses this year but ones that stand out are Corbellis, Portmarnock, Newlands & Waterville. but have to say my home course (Athy) greens have been the best I have ever seen this year. I put it down to the new machine they purchased this year but they have been exceptional.

valoren

Fota for me too.

Played mainly society outings this year and that was the highlight.

It's all about that pure roll and the consistency of that roll.

Where there's no feeling like you have to Hit or Bunt the ball to get it to the hole.

I don't care about the aethetics of the green, they can look Augusta-pristine but have no roll or look like nothing special but roll perfectly.

fullstop

pinkdoubleeagle wrote: »

Am extremely biased but not seen any better than Lucan's TBH

Think I've only played there once this year, back in early May. They weren't as quick as they usually are, but they're brilliant any other time I play there.

jrby

hermitage, played there a few times this year and consistently excellent, Mcilroy played there before British Open and said there were best greens he's played on in long time (having said that his previous round was on greens he described as cabbage!)

Seve OB

Obviously Kevin I'm going to say Greystones also . But genuinely, despite being a member there, I have played a lot of courses around the country, and the Greens in Greystones are as good as any, and certainly better than most.

Poor Fix couldn't get a handle on them at all the other day and when the Captain apologised to him for the condition as they had just been sanded I don't think he knew what to make of it!

Also have to say that I though Monty were fantastic last week. Castleknock greens get great reviews, but while they are good, they are let down terribly by the amount of pitch marks left unrepaired. I guess it is a result of it being less of a members club and more of a society location

Dublin Spur

Parkland:
Was very impressed with The Castle (in late April) and The Grange (in early Aug)

Links:
No surprise really put the greens in Baltray (in early Jul) were superb
Also the Portmarnock Hotel greens are worth a favorable mention.

Golfgorfield

Consistently, all year round Douglas Gc is by a mile the best greens ive ever played, just snooker table like.

wardides

Dublin Spur wrote: »

Parkland:
Was very impressed with The Castle (in late April) and The Grange (in early Aug)

Links:
No surprise really put the greens in Baltray (in early Jul) were superb
Also the Portmarnock Hotel greens are worth a favorable mention.

Played Baltray last week and wasn't overly impressed to be honest. Now, to be fair I play it a few times a year & they are magnificent, so me saying they weren't great last week is them being held against their unbelievably high standard.

Course not too far from that, Seapoint next door is fantastic. Always enjoy a round there & green fees are relatively cheap for course you play (if anything some holes are just a little bit dull).

cgh

I've played a good few courses this year,

for me Hermitage are always excellent.

my own Course The Heath are not bad.

portarlington have great greens too at the moment.

Kingswood Rover

cgh wrote: »

I've played a good few courses this year,

for me Hermitage are always excellent.

my own Course The Heath are not bad.

portarlington have great greens too at the moment.

yep Ports were excellent there when i played in July but come on folks everyone knows the best greens in Ireland are at the Blessed lakes.

Armchair Andy

Golfgorfield wrote:

Consistently, all year round Douglas Gc is by a mile the best greens ive ever played, just snooker table like.

Do you think they should be watered a bit more? Very tough to hold them on approach imo. That second is the standout for me suggesting so...

brenaldo

Old head greens every year are arguably the best in the country. They are quick, true and have some grain in them. Regardless of rain they are absolutely flawless

FixdePitchmark

Now this is a good idea.

FixdePitchmark

sorry - till someone said Marty.

slingerz

yipsnomore wrote: »

Douglas in Cork are one of my favourites.

Fota as well

Douglas would be the greens I hate. In fantastic condition but almost unfair in their setup

Fota is superb alright

bundaegi

Newland's greens are always up there for me. (not a member!)

Kevinmarkham

Thanks for all the responses. I've heard Douglas mentioned several times this year, as well as Dooks and Lucan.

Anyone been to Ardglass or Mount Wolseley?

As for my home club of Greystones - as Seve O'B has said - they're excellent... although I would have the same issue as those on here who have remarked on the greeens at Douglas being set up almost unfairly. They roll beautifully and are very fast but they're more like links greens than parkland which means you have to play a different type of approach shot to several greens. Personally, I think that's almost unfair on visitors... Fix, what are your opinions on that, seeing as you've just played it?

slave1

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

Anyone been to Ardglass or Mount Wolseley?

MW greens way too big, 3 putt guaranteed given their size and speed, you can be 40yard away no problem with a downhill putt, great greens but not playable for most IMHO, played there twice during the Summer and perfect both times but as above crazy setup, probably perfect as feck all traffic

thewobbler

Played Mount Wolsely a couple of years ago and the greens terrified me. Huge, quick and full of steep drops.

Played around a dozen courses up north this year, and Belvoir Park were the best: such a lovely roll.

Loved Strandhill's back in April too. They seemed to be cut so that the ball gravitated towards the hole rather than sped away from it.

Kevinmarkham

Thanks for all the input. Used it to produce an article in the Irish Golfer Digital's 1st weekly edition:

dar_cool

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

Thanks for all the responses. I've heard Douglas mentioned several times this year, as well as Dooks and Lucan.

Anyone been to Ardglass or Mount Wolseley?

As for my home club of Greystones - as Seve O'B has said - they're excellent... although I would have the same issue as those on here who have remarked on the greeens at Douglas being set up almost unfairly. They roll beautifully and are very fast but they're more like links greens than parkland which means you have to play a different type of approach shot to several greens. Personally, I think that's almost unfair on visitors... Fix, what are your opinions on that, seeing as you've just played it?

Was up in Ardglass in August Kevin for Down summer trophy and greens in ardglass were super, top 10 ive putted on all year, quick and very true, cant wait to go play up there, cracking layout

Mantis Toboggan

Played luttrellstown last weekend, greens were fantastic.

AGC

Carlow were top quality in scratch cup last week.

Normally Lucan would be the best but haven't played it this year. Castletroy's excellent as well

Kevinmarkham

AGC wrote: »

Carlow were top quality in scratch cup last week.

Normally Lucan would be the best but haven't played it this year. Castletroy's excellent as well

I played with a member from Wicklow GC on Sunday. One of the Cups/Shields events was held there during the summer and Lucan were represented... apparently they said Wicklow's greens were the best they'd played on.

mike12

slave1 wrote: »

MW greens way too big, 3 putt guaranteed given their size and speed, you can be 40yard away no problem with a downhill putt, great greens but not playable for most IMHO, played there twice during the Summer and perfect both times but as above crazy setup, probably perfect as feck all traffic

So if the greens were half the size and u has to chip rather than putt.
Roganstown are always good and have to say for a public course swords open are always in great nick.
The standard in Ireland is good have to say I'm struggling to think of any poor greens I have played on this year.

alxmorgan

mike12 wrote: »

So if the greens were half the size and u has to chip rather than putt.
Roganstown are always good and have to say for a public course swords open are always in great nick.
The standard in Ireland is good have to say I'm struggling to think of any poor greens I have played on this year.

I'd agree generally. The bad ones stand out....Carne in ACC for example

Mantis Toboggan

Is there any rule that says you cannot use a wedge on a green?

pistol_75

Dennis Reynolds wrote: »

Is there any rule that says you cannot use a wedge on a green?

No

alxmorgan

Dennis Reynolds wrote: »

Is there any rule that says you cannot use a wedge on a green?

I've done it a couple of times. Once on home course with two tiered green. For a bit of a laugh really.

Second time playing away and you could not hit ball straight at pin due to fringe in between. Both times green remained undamaged. Shots turned out ok too

BoardsMember

Interesting to see Greystones here. I played a few weeks ago. I'd admit that they are fast, and consistent in speed. And I really like fast greens. I didn't particularly like them though. I thought they were not that true, or that there were too many little mini-breaks in a lot of putts, I'm not sure how to explain it, other than that, or that they were slippery or something. I really liked the course. In my opinion, "better" greens would have a more consistent break throughout a putt, as in you can read it because there are not little breaks here and there all over the place. Not sure I am making much sense with how I am explaining it but I would have played better greens: Lucan, Milltown, Druids Heath for example. These would be quick greens too, with some serious undulations, but not as many "surprises", good putts that all well read will drop, I didn't feel it was possible to read putts that well in Greystones. I might to wrong, and just crap at reading putts...

Armchair Andy

Played Dooks greens last weekend. They were in excellent shape considering the rainfall. Could I read them? Not one putt from outside 6 foot touched the hole. Normally a good enough putter but just couldn't get them.

slave1

Armchair Andy wrote: »

Played Dooks greens last weekend. They were in excellent shape considering the rainfall. Could I read them? Not one putt from outside 6 foot touched the hole. Normally a good enough putter but just couldn't get them.

Played there too recently and they were lovely but wandering a bit, played Rosses at the weekend and they were a dream to play on, very good indeed, pity same could not be said for rest of course as there were large ponds of water in a good few places on the fairways